If they can do it, so can you!

Take inspiration from the Healthy Food Guide weight-loss stars. They’ve all overcome personal hurdles and ditched unhealthy routines to trim their waistlines

Insider tips from healthy eaters who have reached their goals

‘I found healthy foods I love’

Jo Butcher, 46

HEIGHT 5ft 4in (163cm)

WEIGHT BEFORE 13st 9lb (88kg)

WEIGHT NOW 9st (57kg)

WAIST BEFORE 39¾in (101cm)

WAIST NOW 28in (71cm)

BMI BEFORE 32.7

BMI NOW 21.6

Seeing herself in a fitting room mirror spurred Jo to revamp her lifestyle.

‘Working nights in a residential care home was one of the main reasons I put on weight. Being in charge meant I rarely had time to take a break and eat a proper meal, and there were always cakes and biscuits around, which I’d snack on when I needed an energy boost. I also struggled with portion sizes – at home my plate was usually piled high with carbs. One day when out shopping I saw a woman in the changing room and thought, “My goodness, she’s fat.” Then I realised I was looking at my reflection in the mirror.

‘It took me about eight months to lose the weight. I started to eat everything in moderation and stuck to three meals a day. On a night shift I’d eat something to give me lasting energy, such as chicken with brown rice, salad and fruit, so I could go to bed without feeling hungry.

About Healthy Food Guide

At last, a long-term plan for weight loss! If you’ve relied on extreme diets before, you’ll love our brand new plan, which focuses on making small changes that add up to long-term weight loss. Start off with our dietitian’s kickstart 14-day menu plan, then try the rest of our low- calorie recipes with nutrition symbols to help you choose foods for your particular needs. Keep going and be inspired by the HFG readers who ditched the fads, lost weight and feel great. They’re still enjoying food to the full, and the changes they’ve made can work for you, too. Make it today and keep that unhealthy weight off for good.